HOUSTON, Texas – With thousands still without power following Hurricane Beryl, hospitals in the Houston area are seeing an increase in carbon monoxide-related emergency room visits. As Houstonians enter day five without power, many are using generators to help stay cool, prepare meals, or power refrigerators.
“It’s probably day three and four of a power outage that people start to use their generators for a longer time. If they’re closer than 20 feet to a home, they can be in great danger to the family,” said Dr. Benjamin Saldana, the assistant director at Houston Methodist.
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Hurricane Beryl knocked out power to more than 2 million households and businesses Monday morning, and as of Friday, 875,000 customers are still without electricity. CenterPoint says it is working tirelessly to restore power, but some customers may be left in the heat until next week.
From Monday, July 8 at midnight through Thursday, July 11, the Houston Health Department reported 116 carbon monoxide-related visits, including patients from Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend counties and medical facilities in those areas.
“We know that carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly. Generators can be lifesaving during an emergency, but because of the carbon monoxide, they can be deadly. Those patients present with headaches, shortness of breath, and nausea. That’s when they need to seek help urgently,” said Carrie Bakunas, an assistant professor of emergency medicine and medical director at Memorial Hermann TMC.
Carrie Bakunas noted that there is usually an increase in carbon monoxide-related hospital visits after a storm or hurricane.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized each year. CO is found in fumes produced anytime you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it.
Many household items, including gas- and oil-burning furnaces, portable generators, and charcoal grills, produce carbon monoxide, according to the CDC.
To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, Dr. Cedric Dark, associate professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, said if you’re getting a generator installed, make sure it’s done by a reputable provider; and if you’re using a portable one, make sure it’s several feet away from any windows and outside of your home to avoid carbon monoxide fumes entering your home.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- Headache
- Tingling or numbness
- Weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
- Seizure
Generator Safety
Do not use generators close to your home.
Do not use generators close to a garage.
Even in a breezeway, a generator can create enough carbon monoxide to kill a whole family.
A generator must be 20 feet away from the house.